But of course, to lobby for "disclosure" implies that there is something to "disclose," which is highly dubious. And to hold a valid "hearing" implies that witnesses are queried under oath, which of course will not be the case, leaving them free to fabricate as much as they please without fear of repercussions. The five former members of Congress are being paid a reported $20,000 each by Paradigm to participate in this circus.

“I agreed to participate,” Gravel told CBS 11 via telephone. “I have my own views and skepticism, but I'm reading up on the subject, and like anything else, the more you read up on the subject the more you become surprised. I have no preconceived ideas that there are or aren't extraterrestrial influences as to things that are going on, and I'm curious. I do a lot of reading and studying about what's going on, especially as I get older, and so I'm curious if there is something out there that they can prove to skeptical eye.”

On November 12, 2007, James Fox and Leslie Kean hosted a press conference in Washington, DC, with many of the same witnesses, many of the same claims. The tales told at this press conference were made into the documentary movie[url=http://www.amazon.com/I-Know-What-Saw/dp/B002VH7P5S/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1365978601&sr=1-1&keywords=I know what I saw] I Know What I Saw[/url]. Among Paradigm's 2013 speakers Penniston, Pope, and Santa-Maria also spoke then.

On May 9, 2001, with much ballyhoo Steven Greer launched his UFO "Disclosure Project" with a press conference at the National Press Club. The 2013 Paradigm speakers who also spoke in 2001 are Nick Pope, Edgar Mitchell, Robert Salas, George A. Filer, Robert Wood, and Steven Greer. It is unclear if these "witnesses" will have anything substantial to add to the claims they made in the 2001 press conference.

So clearly, in the matter of 'Disclosure,' there is "nothing new under the sun." I hope I didn't forget any other "UFO disclosure" press conferences. If I did, please let me know!